own race as favored enemy = evil?

[Hadraniel]

I tend to agree if they have a good reason then let it go. I would rather have a player play something they want than be a gestapo DM and say no to everything players want.

What if the human grew up with elves and his only contact with humans was Zhents, Red Wizards, and Bandits. The story may need to be more indepth, but it could be a start.

Remember the game is for fun. If you think that the person doing this would take away from the fun of the game, say no. But if the only thing it does is make the player happy, then go for it.

 

[UD]

I ruled zero'd this.

 

[Madfox]

I rule 0 it as well, especially where humans are concerned. Since humans though are a rather dominant force in my campaign I do limit it to the five major cultures there are on the continent. In the FR you can also more or less take your own race as a favoured enemy, because they allow organisations to become a favoured enemy. Which is something I would also allow, where it not that there are no real large wide spread organisation in my campaign world.

 

[Gez]

Favored Enemy is silly whatever you do with it. I don't see how the anatomy of an elf is more different to that of a human than the one of a carrion crawler to the one of a will'o'wisp. However, if you take favored enemy: elf, you won't be able to affect humans with it, while if you take favored enemy: aberration, you'll be able to hunt efficiently creatures as varied as illithids, temporal filchers, chokers and chuul.

Of course, Favored Enemy: Humanoid would be too powerful, and Favored Enemy: Beholder would be too weak. That's yet another illustration of where balance win over logic.

I would just remove the Fav. Enemy entirely and give a small, but indiscriminate Sneak Attack to the Ranger. And maybe let Favored Enemy be available as a special feat.

 

[Bonedagger]

Favored enemies is only based on emotions. Not knowlege of anatomy. So if you can justify it I would say ok. The roleplaying penalty/fun would be enough to justify this anyway (I would not ignore it- NPC will sometimes be able to sense a reluctance in the PC if they are the favored enemy). And do not forget: The players will not know what they will be facing.